Kwun Tong Line Extension gazetted *********************************

The Government published in the Gazette today (November 27) the railway scheme for the Extension (KTE) in accordance with the Railways Ordinance.

The Executive Council decided in March 2008 that the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) should be asked to proceed with the further planning and preliminary design of the KTE.

A government spokesman said under the KTE project, the proposed railway line would be a 2.6-kilometre-long railway extending from on the existing MTR Kwun Tong Line with two new stations in Ho Man Tin and Whampoa. Passengers can interchange at the proposed for the future to Central Link. The extension will provide convenient railway services to the residents of the Ho Man Tin, Hung Hom and Whampoa areas. The railway will run wholly underground.

"The proposed railway line will help reduce traffic on the roads in the Ho Man Tin and Whampoa areas. Passengers from Ho Man Tin and Whampoa will be able to reach Mong Kok within five minutes, compared with more than 25 minutes by using road-based transport between Whampoa and Mong Kok during rush hours," the spokesman said.

The Government and the MTRCL presented the project to the Traffic and Transport Committee of the Council and the City District Counil and conducted two rounds of public consultation in collaboration with the District Council in 2008 and 2009. The District Councils and the local community were briefed on the proposed railway scheme and provided a lot of useful comments which have been included in the proposal, where appropriate. Roving exhibitions and public forums were held to collect views and suggestions from the local community.

Once the proposed railway scheme is gazetted under the Railways Ordinance (Cap 519), the MTRCL will proceed with the detailed design and further planning of the project. The Government will continue to conduct public engagement and further explain the proposed railway scheme to District Councillors and the local community.

Under the Railways Ordinance, members of the public have the right to lodge objections to the railway scheme for the KTE from now until January 26, 2010, and they can claim compensation under the provisions of the Ordinance.

Subject to the authorisation of the scheme by the Chief Executive in Council, the construction work is expected to commence in 2011 for completion by 2015. While complying with the statutory procedures, the Government will continue to strive for early commencement of the project and its completion.

The will be an extension of the existing MTR network. It will be implemented as an MTR project under the ownership approach. The Government will adopt the rail plus property model and proposes to use the site at the Ho Man Tin Station for property development to bridge the funding gap.

The railway scheme and the relevant plans are available for public inspection at the Central and Western, Kowloon City, Yau Tsim Mong and Sai Kung District Offices and the District Lands Offices of Kowloon East and Kowloon West and Sai Kung, during office hours.

A copy of the scheme and the plans may be purchased from the Railway Development Office of the . Enquiries on purchasing details can be made to the Highways Department at telephone number 2762 3976. The electronic version of the scheme and the plans are viewable on the Highways Department's website (www.hyd.gov.hk/eng/major/road/rail/index.htm).

Further enquiries regarding the scheme can be addressed to the Highways Department at telephone number 2762 4030 or to the Transport and Housing Bureau at telephone number 2189 2133 during office hours.

Ends/Friday, November 27, 2009 Issued at HKT 11:04

NNNN